Trivandrum, capital city of Kerala

The third destination in our itinerary of Kerala trip was Trivandrum or  Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. After Periyar, we wanted to drop the anchor at Trivandrum mainly because it was near to Kovalam beach. 

  We left Periyar at around 2 pm and reached Trivandrum city close to 8 pm. The distance isn't that long; however, as it mostly passes through different cities, the pace of driving gets slow. Add to that, most of the roads are two way. For the first 10-20 kilometers you can see rubber, banana and pineapple plantations on either side of the road.

  Anyway, just after entering the main city, we spotted a hotel on MG road called "City Tower Hotel". Tired out of the journey, we quickly checked into the hotel. They had their own parking and a restaurant. 

  Though not luxurious, the rooms were decent with clean toilet. Only few things were left to be done for the day. Food and sleep. The food at the restaurant was superb. We savored parathas, chettinad chicken and fried rice and chilly chicken. WOW! That's a big menu, isn't it? 

   After this huge meal, we headed back to our room and crashed for the day.

  Our plan for the next day was to cover the sight seeing places in the city and  spend the sunset hours at Kovalam beach.

  So after breakfast, we headed for Shanghumugham beach. Since the daytime temperature in Trivandrum rises very fast, we thought of covering this beach first. This beach is within 6 KM from city center. It's very close to the airport. It's a nice long beach. During that early morning hour, we found it very less crowded. 

History

Trivandrum, also known as Thiruvananthapuram has been a melting pot of culture and history since times unknown. The Ays are known to be the earliest inhabitants of this city till the beginning of 10th century A.D. Their sudden disappearance led to the rise of the Venads in Trivandrum. 

It was in 1684, when the city saw a shift in its governing body from Umayamma Rani to the British East India Company. The Britishers had attained a land at Anjengo (located 32 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram ) for the purpose of fortifying it. They further expanded their reigns to various parts of Thiruvithamcore. 

Trivandrum was a center of intellectual and artistic activities during the days of Marthanda Varma, who is considered to be the Father of the Modern Travancore. The first English school in Trivandrum was set up by him in the year 1834. The construction of an observatory and charitable trust was completed in 1836. Further, during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal (1860-1880), various art colleges and Tamil schools were established. 

During the reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal, Trivandrum was involved in various activities of the Indian National Congress. On November 1st 1956, Trivandrum was declared as a city of Kerala.

Travel within city

Tourists opting for a trip to Trivandrum will find it really easy to travel within the city. This is because Trivandrum is very well connected through a network of buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, cars and two wheelers, so reaching any part of the city will not be a problem. 

Bus

Buses in Trivandrum cover almost all known parts of the city, and opting for buses is the cheapest option among the above given ones. You will need to shell out around Rs 4 to 10 in order to travel from one point in Trivandrum to another. Buses can be a very good option if you know your destination beforehand, and you can also ask the locals for help in order to find out where you should disembark. 

Taxi

Cabs can be taken up from the major cab agencies in the city and some of these have been given below. Fares may range anywhere between Rs 150 to 500 depending on the distance covered. 

Ramgiri Inter Cabs- Ph: 09895034508
Kerala Cars- Ph: 09447001010

Auto Rickshaw

Auto rickshaws in Trivandrum do not run on meter; however the charges are very minimal when compared to the other cities in Kerala. While travelling through an auto rickshaw, do not discuss the rate when you reach your destination. Negotiate a rate before getting into an auto rickshaw, as fares will rarely exceed Rs 70. There are no night fares and autos are a safe mode of travel. 

Rented Two Wheeler

You can also rent out a two wheeler for around Rs 350 to 500 a day and the deposit will cost you around Rs 1500 per day. 

Food

Trivandrum boasts of many classy and high end restaurants that remain open from 9 am till 11 pm. For some quick and cheap refreshments, tourists can look out for Karikku (coconut water) and Sambharam (buttermilk with ginger and chilli). For tourists looking for great vegetarian options, a visit to Ananda Bhavan on MG Road, famous for their South Indian and tandoori dishes served in the classic way, i.e. served on a banana leaf and tourists need to sit down and eat with their hands is an ideal experience. 

For those seeking to savor some finger licking non veg delicacies can go to Kerala House Family Restaurant on Statue Road known for its fish pollichathu (fish baked in banana leaf). Another good option isKalavara Family Restaurant on Press Road, popular for their fish molee (fish in coconut sauce) and lunch time birayanis. 

Tiffany's Restaurant in Muthoot Plaza, Regency and Spencer's Daily on MG Road too are good places to enjoy a hearty meal.

Shopping

While in Trivandrm, shopping is an inevitable indulgence. The main shopping area is Connemara market, where tourists can shop for local spices and clothes at dearth cheap rate. For the famous coffee and fragrant tea leaves along with varieties of nuts, Sankers Coffee and Tea on MG Road is the apt place to shop. For exlusive handicrafts and exquisite statues, the Government Emporium on YMCA Road, by the name SMSM Institute is a must visit.